Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-05

donable blunder. or worse, the ten pail bear
ers, selected from the G.. A. r. posts in this
city, were compelled to walk the entire dis
lance, besides standing with barred heads At
the tomb during the last services. This
was done At the risk of their lives, but not one
finched doubt not some of them Will soon
follow their beloved general.
The most of the attending veterans from
the e. A. r. were clerks in the departments.
I've or three of the finest and nobiest men
we're detailed from each post to act as guard
of honor 70 guard the BODY Of the dead soldier.
know of an instance where one veteran,
thus detailed, was refused permission BY his
democratic superior to attend. But he went
all the same The democrats are ostentatlous
in their praise of Logan. but it comes not
from the heart. There is q motive in 1t
The district ring democrats have made
most remarkable change of front in the case
Of Matthews. the colored candidate for the
Recorder of Deeds of this city, who was re-
jected BY the Senate at the last session and
whose name has been sent again 10 the Senate
thi, session. At his first nomination every
democrat in the district blszed With wrath.
The democrats in the S~nats voted almost
soiidy against his confirmation. And, by
some hocus pocus, Matthews has converted
the members of the district ring, and even
the Washington Post, and they are now as
loud in his support as they were last spring
10 his denunciatioD. The office IL mere
sinecure: the Recorder has absolutely no ofH.
cial duties 10 preform. He is not required
to be present himself, but may act wholly
through deputy, and he is not re-
CURED to give bond. He receives
from %, 900 to $40, 900 per annum. The in
cumbent should be a resident Of this district
for his fees come directly from the people
Besides, the President pledged himself to the
doctrine of ''homs rule" whep he indorsed
the platform of the convention which nom-
mated him. Ii 10 therefore safe to say that
the loud professions of love from this colored
PENTHOUSE politician from Albany by the
white democrats of this district 10 not genu-
inc. Hitherto the very sight OF a col'red
official ha. given them the cold chills. Every
effort to advance the freedman, socially, or
politically, has always been met with the
sneering question. "Do YOU want yorr sister
to marry q Niger" What, then, is the
cause Of this wonderful transformation!
believe the object is this: 1t Is we'll known
that Matthews cannot be confirmed After
his rejection it will be asserted that he was
rejected bv Il republican Senate on the ground
that colored man who is 4 democrat is not
=
is more intolerant towards negro voters than
are the democrats of the South During the
next campaign the democrats will undertake
to use this a. an offset to the unanswerable
charges which Mr.. Blaine has made against
the South for their wicked suppression Ut the
colored vote. 1t is we'll known that Mr..
Cleveland processes to be very solicitous FOR
Matthews confirmation. but there are many
who do not believe that these professions are
genuine.
One of the many instances of consistency
in reform. for which This administration is so
justly noted, has just come under my observa-
ton. A Maine man, who for many years,
has been chief of one of the most important
divisions in the Interior Department., aud
who had an assistant receiving $500 per an
nun, was u few weeks ago suddenly reduced
to assistant chief of the division Tenn s.
zee man, with no knowledge Of the office.
was appointed to his place. This new ap-
pointee knew nothing Of the details of the
office, nor can he, with Al Unlimited amount
of time and teaching ever fill his predeces-
sor's place, But the democrat must be given
position, and at the same time 1t was abso-
lutely necessary that the machinery OF the
division should continue to run smoothly. SO
the old chief who 10 now the assistant chief,
was directed to take charge OF the division
and perform the same duties as before, while
the former assistant chief was transferred
absolutely to another part of the office, but
in fact he was continued in his old place and
entrusted with the svme duties The nomi-
nal chief has only to draw his salary, and the
tax payers of this country, in order that one
of 1.-THE hungry and thirsty" may have fat
office, be mulcted in the sum of eighteen hun
dred dollars. | do not exaggerate when | say
that this 10 fair sample of the reform with
when this adminst alton asks to be credited.
To those of US who are here in the midst
OF the din Of democratic administration
and observe the incapabilty Of its officers,
the ignorance of its clerks and the absolute
disregard of the public interests, aud who
have an abiding faith in the good sense. good
judgment. and loyalty ot the American peo-
Pile, it seems an imposs bilitv that the repub
lican party shall not again 10 'S9 resume the
administration of national affairs and make
civil service credit and republican virtue
reality, and. let us hope, under the guidance
of JAMES G. BLAINE.
The Hon. Charles B Morton having set all
his sails. nailed his colors to the mast. and
taken the helm himself is now fairly launched
as Commissioner of Navigation. Some think
he will soon be in deep water. He is in
Washington, drawing his salary with a regu-
larity and promptness which is truly touch
ing.